Sue White has made explosive allegations about Cardiff's Labour group

Sue White made a series of allegations against the ruling Labour group on Cardiff council

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A former Cardiff councillor has alleged there is culture of 'bullying' and 'racial discrimination' in the city's Labour group.

Former group spokesperson Sue White quit on Monday after two years as a Llandaff North councillor.

And she has now issued an explosive statement, accusing ex-colleagues of bullying her for speaking up for a Muslim association.

The group is now perilously close to losing its majority on the city council – with suggestions more councillors could exit the group imminently and some even thinking about defecting to a rival party.

In a statement, she told Wales Online she resigned “because of bullying and what I perceive to be racial discrimination”.

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But Ms White said she had become “extremely concerned at what I see as prejudice” against them.

She said one colleague warned her not to go to AMA meetings or to an Eid dinner in County Hall because of unfounded allegations about the group’s supposed links to Isis, adding: “I told the colleague that it was completely unacceptable to make allegations of that nature and attended the event.”

Ahmadiyya Muslims at a gathering in Hampshire in 2014

But she added that she was the only Cardiff councillor to attend – even though others had apparently accepted invitations.

Ms White said she questioned whether that was because other politicians had been “fed the same falsehoods” about the group.

She told police, who said they had no reservations about councillors attending AMA events, and also complained to the chief executive of the council and the chief whip of the Labour group, who told her to raise the issue at a group meeting.

“I met forceful opposition when I proposed a group motion merely stating that I had sought police advice and there was no valid reason for councillors not attending events such as the Eid dinner,” she added.

'I was sickened to the pit of my stomach'

Newly elected Labour Counciller for Llandaff North, Sue White.

“To put it mildly, I was sickened to the pit of my stomach that I encountered such heated resistance to my motion and that not one fellow member at the meeting supported my defence of a group which has been cruelly persecuted in other parts of the world.

“The motion was not passed. I feel that the treatment I received that night constituted bullying.”

And she added: "I have worked for the Labour party all my adult life, my parents have been Labour activists for 70 years, and the behaviour I have witnessed while I have served as a councillor in Cardiff bears no resemblance to the fundamental Labour policies of inclusion, equality and respect."

There will not be a by-election in Ms White’s former seat because it is less than six months until the next scheduled full council election.

Labour will investigate allegations

A spokeswoman for Cardiff Labour said: "We are very grateful for the years of dedication that Sue White has shown to the Labour party and would like to thank her for her commitment to her constituents in Llandaff North, whom she has served well since her by-election.

"In regards to the meeting, Ms White's concerns were listened to and as a result the council's approach to the Ahamdiyya Muslim Association was amended. The position of the group was changed to accommodate the views of Sue White and others that spoke in favour of the AMA at that meeting.

"The Lord Mayor, just this weekend, attended The Interfaith Peace Symposium event organised by the Ahamdiyya Muslim Association.

"We take all allegations of bullying seriously, and will work with Welsh Labour to look at the detail of Ms White's statement."

And a Welsh Labour spokesman added: “We will work with the Labour group to fully investigate these allegations. We have already provided substantial support to ensure good conduct within the group and we will continue to provide any support which is needed in the future.”

Political opponents seized on the resignation

Judith Woodman, leader of the opposition Lib Dems, said: “I’m sure the people of Cardiff would rather Labour had spent less time over the past five years on their petty internal squabbles, and more on cleaning up our streets, fixing our roads and keeping their council tax promise.”

Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative leader, added: “It is hardly surprising that Labour are unable to run the city if they can’t keep their own house in order.”

Plaid's leader on Cardiff council, Neil McEvoy, said: “The Labour party is in freefall in Cardiff. This is the third month in a row they’ve lost a councillor.

"I note Sue White is the seventh female Labour councillor to resign and I now hope the council instigates an inquiry into why so many female councillors say they feel intimidated and bullied on the council.”